5 CRITICAL BEST PRACTICES FOR PURCHASING SAAS BD YF VENDORHAWKThe way software is purchased drastically changed when the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model started to become the norm. As cloud-based services focused heavily on the end user, SaaS applications are easier than ever to purchase and download. While this makes it an easy process for employees to get the software they need to do their best work, it also brings up the question of whether or not the right software, at the right price, for the right people are being used With the ever-growing number of SaaS applications hitting the market each day, there are often dozens of software performing similar tasks. While their capabilities may be similar, there are many factors to consider when choosing the right software for company-wide implementation This guide helps business leaders and department heads make smarter SaaS purchases by providing five critical best practices for purchasing SaaS: Audit Your Tech Stack Compare Prices and Capabilities Actively Engage with SaaS Vendors Customer Success and Support Services Make a Collaborative Decision with Internal Teams Following these five best practices will enable SaaS buyers to reduce software redundancies, make informed purchasing decisions, and empower their businesses with software that fits their needs and aligns with their budget. YF www venoorbaws.com 2VENDOR 5 CRITICAL BEST PRACTIC! t NS NeB TVS 1. AUDIT YOUR TECH STACK The decision to buy software is usually initiated because there is a specific business need that is not currently being met. Whether the need is for safer file-sharing, a collaborative project management tool, or for insight into how well social media campaigns are performing—the need always drives the decision to buy. Before even starting the search for new software, it is critical to check internally at the software already being used within the business to avoid software redundancies. According to Netskope, the average enterprise uses roughly 1,000 cloud-based applications, many of which are purchased at-will by employees and overlap with similar products already purchased and used within the company. Netskope also revealed that a majority of the applications used are not considered enterprise ready, meaning companies are prone to increased security risks and non-compliant software ‘Avg. # of Cloud Apps Used by Vertical, Global, April 2017 1400 1.208 g 1200 1170 - 1,092 E 1,000 : so aos a % a0 3 E00 5 é E400 oO = 200 0 a NLENER = PERKINS It is essential for business leaders to audit their company-wide tech stack not only to reduce redundancies and save money, but to ensure the applications being used keep sensitive data safe and are compliant with IT standards. YF WwwvendorHawk.com 3